The History of 19th-Century Quarantine Politics: A Conversation with David S. Barnes
Peoples & Things
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The Foundation of the New Lazaretto
The quarantine operation, as you said, was poorly enforced. It was very leaky. And obviously didn't stop these terrible epidemics in the 1790s,. But just providing care for so many sick people was beyond the capability of any institution or individual. All doctors, all medical practitioners in Philadelphia couldn't possibly handle even a fraction of the number of people who were sick every day. So, kind of volunteers sort of civic leaders and merchants, led by the mayor of Philadelphia Matthew Clarkson organized themselves in an emergency committee to meet the basic needs of the people.
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